§ 44. Mr. KINGasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can make any statement about the merchant vessels captured as prizes, either in British ports or on the high seas; what is being done with the crews of these vessels; and whether any attempt has been or will be made to exchange merchant shipping taken as prizes?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)It is proposed to issue from time to time a list of vessels brought in as prize to the ports of the British Empire. The officers and crew, if of enemy nationality, become prisoners of war unless, in the case of those not belonging to or intended for the enemy's naval or military service, they sign an undertaking that, while hostilities last, they will not engage in any service connected with the operations of war. If they are of neutral nationality the officers are detained under the same conditions as those of enemy nationality; the men are released. It is not proposed to exchange merchant vessels detained as prizes.
§ 79. Mr. LOUGHasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state what steps are taken in the ordinary course to dispose of the cargoes and hulls of ships taken as prizes and brought into British ports, and how the funds received on the sale of such cargoes are disposed of?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe question concerns the procedure of the Prize Court, over which the Admiralty have no authority. I may observe, however, that Order XI. of the Prize Court Rules, 1914, directs that where a ship is ordered to be 144 sold such sale shall be by public auction, unless the judge shall for good cause otherwise order, and the gross proceeds thereof shall be paid into Court by the marshal. The same rule applies to goods. I may say, further, as regards the last part of the question, that the action to be taken as regards the funds derived from the sales is under consideration, and that a general notice on the subject will shortly be published.